Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center is based in Lubbock, Texas, and was established in May of 1969. There are additional campuses across Texas, including in Amarillo, Dallas, and El Paso, and it is part of the Texas Tech University System. There are more than 1000 students enrolled, and TTUHSC offers baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral degrees. There are five schools: The School of Medicine, the School of Nursing, the School of Health Professions, the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, and the School of Pharmacy. The Online Doctor of Science in Physical Therapy degree is part of the School of Health Professions.

The school was first founded as Texas Technological College School of Medicine but changed names quickly to Texas Tech University School of Medicine. The school changed names once again in 1979 to Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center.

For many years, the only program offered at the school was Medicine, but by the late 1970s, there were plans in place to add other schools including Nursing, Pharmacy, Health Professions, and Dentistry. The school continued to grow, and by the 1990s, there were satellite campuses in Odessa and Amarillo.

Today, the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center has campuses in Amarillo, Abilene, Dallas, and Lubbock. There are also, of course, online programs, including the Online Doctor of Science in Physical Therapy program.

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Accreditation Details

The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. The School of Health Professions is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education. However, this particular program is not accredited as the accrediting body does not accredit post-professional programs in physical therapy, which is what the Online Doctor of Science in Physical Therapy program is.

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Application Requirements

The Online Doctor of Science in Physical Therapy program begins two times a year, Summer and Fall. There is an online application that potential students can use. When submitting the application, students must also submit a $75 fee.

In addition to the application, students applying to this program must also submit official transcripts from every institution that they have attended. Applicants are not required to submit GRE scores, but they must show proof of earning a Bachelor's, Master's, DPT, or tDPT in Physical Therapy to be admitted into this program.

Additional requirements for this program include a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0/4.0 and all applicants must be a practicing physical therapist with at least a year of experience. Applicants also must submit two letters of recommendation and a professional resume.

Before admission, applicants must also sit through a formal interview with admission staff.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Since the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center is a public school, residents of Texas pay a lower rate of tuition than students who live out of state. As of 2018, the cost for the School of Health Professions is $50.00 per credit hour. In 2019, the tuition will rise to $150.00 per credit hour.

In addition to the cost of tuition, there are other fees to consider. These include a $75 application fee, $82.50 technology fee, and $75 graduation fee.

Financial aid is available to those who apply to this program. The first step is to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as the FAFSA. Students in this program might be eligible for loans, scholarships, and other opportunities that can lower the cost of education.

Texas Tech University Health Science Center offers an online degree program for those wanting to earn a Doctor of Science in Physical Therapy. This particular program is designed to provide currant therapists the opportunity to gain additional clinical skills, develop more knowledge, and to accomplish professional competence, all of which is necessary to evaluate and treat patients.

This program is for current practitioners who are interested in enhancing their professional knowledge with advanced physical therapy techniques. The program puts an emphasis on both clinical diagnosis and manual therapy. Additionally, it helps students learn how to manage patients with advance musculoskeletal issues. With state-of-the-art technology enhancing this program, students are poised for success.

Potential students who apply to this program typically have bachelor or master's degrees in physical therapy as well as D.P.T. degrees. The program is Web-based, but weekend classes might be required in some cases. So, students should be from the local area or able to travel to the area on weekends. Mentors are available in research, teaching, and clinical practice for students, and while enrolled, students are allowed to continue their PT employment, as a physical therapy work environment can help students apply what they are learning right in the real world.

For this program, students must attend physical classroom courses on long weekends, which is where they will attend lab experiences and lectures. The rest of the curriculum is Web-based. This includes focusing on reading assignments, case studies, interactive sessions, and exploring Web links.

The courses are divided into different categories including Extremity, Spine, Academic, Elective, and Education. Extremity courses include Advanced Clinical Practice for the Elbow & Forearm and Advanced Clinical Practice for the Ankle & Foot. Courses in the Spine category include Advanced Clinical Practice for the Lower C Spine and Advanced Clinical Practice for Acute Lumbosacral Pain. Orthopedic Physical Therapy Screening is an example of an academic course and Updates in Orthopedics Surgical Management is an example of an elective. Curriculum Design & Teaching in Health Professions is one of the Education track courses. There are also research opportunities and clinical projects.

Students who go through this program must do a dissertation project, but they can choose to do clinical teaching or clinical research. The program also prepares students for the Orthopedic Certified Specialist, or OCS, exam.

The program has been a part of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center since 2001, and more than 45 percent of graduates of this program have entered into PT education programs. A further 40 percent of graduates from this Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center program continue to work in a clinical setting, and others work in a director role for various programs.